Patents by Inventor Marvin H. Kluttz

Marvin H. Kluttz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4407183
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for hydraulically controlling subsea well equipment, such as valve operators, connectors, and other hydraulically actuated devices, with a significantly smaller number of hydraulic pressure source lines from the surface to the subsea location of said well equipment and for providing return signals to indicate the state of operation of said well equipment using the same hydraulic lines. The apparatus includes a plurality of hydraulic AND-gate logic elements and a plurality of hydraulic valves mounted near the well equipment. A pair of hydraulic lines between the hydraulic valves and a surface vessel or other surface facility provides control for the various valve operators, connectors and other hydraulically actuated devices, while a third hydraulic line provides power to operate the various devices. The same pair of control lines can be used to transmit signal information from the various devices on the sea floor to the surface vessel to indicate the operating status of these devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1983
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Lionel J. Milberger, Charles E. Horn, Marvin H. Kluttz